Bartimaeus

After seeing Bryn off we cycled back to our mooring. We moved on and met a cheery couple twice working through a lock and later they passed us. Their boat had an unusual name and I asked what it meant. It turned out to be Manx for Good Luck.

As we approached Alrewas, we met them again. They were mooring up early as they mentioned it could be hard to find space in Alrewas. We found a space, but it was opposite a privately moored boat so it was a narrowish space for others but both sides were official moorings. The boat looked very new and had the name Slow Down on the back. Signs asking people to slow down going past moored boats are common. This one may well be talking about the pace of life, but having it across the stern served a dual purpose. They had plenty fenders down too.  No boats were harmed during our mooring there.

At our arrival there we were accompanied by a group of tiny ducklings. They were delightful to watch almost paddling along the surface as they hurried around.

Shane remembered that there was a park withing walking distance, but recalled it had something to do with memorials. Many towns have a memorial park but this was a huge place with very many memorials and many trees being regularly planted, as memorials alongside many plaques and sculptures. A clever logo combined faces and trees. It was a surprise to walk in and see a kilted man. He is clearly in regiment but he was the only uniformed person we saw there.

They mainly remembered those in the armed forces who died in war time, but also who served even if not "the fallen", such as medical staff or police who died on duty, not in war time and other emergency services, paid and voluntary. There are 400 different monuments.

At first the monument to The Guinea Pig Club made me think there had been guinea pigs used to detect bombs, since I knew a kind of rat successfully saves lives by sniffing out landmines. I was wrong though this was about the airmen in hospital that contributed to advances in medicine made due to the high numbers of injuries that war time doctors and surgeons treated.

The walk was pleasant and the monuments were moving but too many to read them all and it was not the most uplifting park. It was a stark reminder of the horrors of war as well as thoughts of admiration for bravery and dedication to duty that so many have.

The next day we had a less emotional visit to the Alrewas cafe. I was amused by the milk jug. I'm happy with the cow association but somehow uncomfortable that it comes out of its mouth.

We noticed a lady at the nearby table had left her bag when they had left the table. I saw through the window that she was outside with her dog so nipped out and mentioned the bag. She thanked me and went back saying she'd left it behind before.

A boat had moored behind us. We heard a conversation and found they were trying to go but had their mooring chain stuck. A man had brought a mooring pin and was trying to lever the piling to get at it, but having no success. I said I would keep trying while he went to deal with the other end. Shane came out and managed to yank it in the right direction and get it free. That was pleasing for them to get it just in time.

Last week we found we had left a chain behind ourselves and had made do with a rusty "nappy pin". It worked fine but doesn't have a bespoke storage space like the chains, so can be hard to grab in a hurry. Unbeknownst to me Shane had made a purchase of a new one while Bryn and I were at a shop and he informed me of it then. Thank you.